“You girl…”
Hearing these words, Liu Xiniang turned back in anguish: “Are you not afraid of death?”
Luo Wanqing looked back at her, her expression resolute: “I’m not afraid.”
Liu Xiniang raised her hand to her forehead. She most feared this type of young lady who suddenly decided to do something without understanding anything, because once such people became serious, nine oxen couldn’t pull them back.
“You might not fully understand the Supervision Department,” Liu Xiniang said, seeing that she was unmovable, and began trying to explain the situation to Luo Wanqing. “I’m just a small fry, the kind who runs errands at the very bottom. Even if you report me, you still won’t get to see Xie Heng. If seeing Xie Heng were that easy, our pavilion master would have long ago had his subordinates killed to assassinate Xie Heng. It wouldn’t be your turn.”
“I know.” Luo Wanqing showed no wavering. “But I want to try.”
“Try with my life?!” Liu Xiniang placed her hand on her chest and spoke in shock.
Luo Wanqing nodded, showing serious and firm regret on her face: “I’m sorry. If you don’t help me think of a way, this is my only option.”
Liu Xiniang was speechless.
She thought for a moment, put her hands on her hips, paced back and forth in the courtyard, and began muttering: “What kind of fate is this that I’d meet such a treasure like you? If I could let you see Xie Heng so easily, would I be in this situation? In the end,” Liu Xiniang suddenly realized something and turned to look at Luo Wanqing, “Why exactly do you want to see Xie Heng?”
“I want to file a complaint.”
Luo Wanqing told the truth. Liu Xiniang was stunned, thought about Luo Wanqing’s outburst today, rolled her eyes, and understood: “You think your family’s case is wrongful, and you want to save your family?”
“Yes.”
“Then you don’t necessarily have to find Xie Heng to file a complaint,” Liu Xiniang breathed a sigh of relief. “For wrongful cases, anyone in the Supervision Department can handle it. I’ll help you find someone else…”
“My Luo family was framed by a prince in collusion with the Minister of Justice,” Luo Wanqing said, looking up. Liu Xiniang’s smile froze. Luo Wanqing asked calmly: “Besides Xie Heng, can anyone else handle this?”
Liu Xiniang couldn’t speak. After a long while, she said awkwardly: “How… how did your family end up provoking such powerful figures?”
“Jiang Shaoyan is a prince who was lost among the common people five years ago.”
With this statement from Luo Wanqing, without needing more explanation, Liu Xiniang pieced together the general picture.
Five years ago, when the northern Rong sought peace, Third Prince Li Guiyu volunteered to go to the Rong as a hostage. However, after the alliance was signed and the Great Xia began withdrawing troops, the Rong suddenly launched a surprise attack. The sixteen-year-old Li Guiyu disappeared in the chaos. The fact that the Zheng family’s legitimate daughter, his childhood sweetheart, had been searching for him everywhere was known throughout the realm.
But no one could have imagined that five years later, when this famous prince returned, the first thing he did was imprison his benefactor to facilitate his marriage with the Zheng family daughter.
Such a case indeed couldn’t be handled by just anyone.
Liu Xiniang thought for a while and understood that Luo Wanqing’s decision was currently her only option and the most cost-effective approach.
Luo Wanqing only needed to find a way to see Xie Heng. If Xie Heng took the case, the Luo family might be able to live well again. If Xie Heng didn’t take it, she couldn’t get much worse. Any other approach would just be surviving by stealth.
Understanding Luo Wanqing’s meaning, she also knew she couldn’t dissuade her.
At this time, chaos erupted outside—clearly, Fengyu Pavilion’s people had begun to act. Liu Xiniang immediately became much more serious. After thinking for a while, she said calmly: “It’s not that I don’t want to help you—I’m truly limited in ability. Tonight, neither of us can go over there. Going would mean being accomplices and dying. You’re seeking a way out for your family, not seeking a path to death for yourself. This complaint matter doesn’t have much chance of success to begin with—you’re just gambling. You can’t raise the stakes this high. At least keep your life and prepare a backup plan.”
Hearing this, Luo Wanqing knew she had persuaded Liu Xiniang. She gazed at Liu Xiniang quietly with clear eyes. Liu Xiniang understood she wanted her to do something and scratched her head: “Seeing Xie Heng is too difficult. You might as well make some request I can fulfill.”
Luo Wanqing didn’t speak immediately. She knew Liu Xiniang was telling the truth.
If seeing Xie Heng were that easy, he would have died ten thousand times already.
She lowered her head, thought for a long time, and finally said: “Who are you trying to kill this time?”
“You’re concerned about this, too?” Liu Xiniang was somewhat surprised.
Luo Wanqing frowned: “Can’t you say?”
“There’s nothing special about it. It’s not my mission anyway. You probably don’t know him—his name is Qin Jue, the son of an official.”
Hearing this name, Luo Wanqing was stunned.
In the dream, this was the second Chief of the Supervision Department—the one who dragged Jiang Shaoyan into the imperial prison.
She hadn’t expected that at this time, he would be in Yangzhou.
“Why are you killing him?”
“I don’t know,” Liu Xiniang shook her head. “It’s not my mission—I was just told to help out. But I know the pavilion issued a Heaven-rank order for him. Heaven-rank orders are non-negotiable kills. If it fails once, there’s a second time, continuing until he dies and the order is canceled. Since Fengyu Pavilion was established, there have only been two Heaven-rank orders:” Liu Xiniang held up two fingers, “one for Xie Heng, and the second for Qin Jue.”
Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s mind raced, connecting all the information to understand.
These assassins were targeting Qin Jue, Xie Heng personally set the ambush, and afterward Qin Jue would join the Supervision Department and become its Chief. This showed Qin Jue and Xie Heng had a close relationship.
If he were such an important person, Xie Heng couldn’t possibly leave the case to others. Those assassins who couldn’t be captured, he would interrogate them personally.
“Do you have a prison map?”
Thinking of this, Luo Wanqing immediately spoke. Liu Xiniang laughed dryly: “Where would I get that kind of thing…”
“Then go get one.”
“I have one!”
Hearing that her workload would increase, Liu Xiniang quickly pulled out a handkerchief from her chest and handed it to Luo Wanqing, saying earnestly: “This is a map our Fengyu Pavilion had spies spend several months in prison to draw. There’s nothing more detailed.”
Luo Wanqing ignored her boasting, took the map, and studied it carefully.
The map was extremely detailed, clearly marking the function and size of every room.
“How many people do you have this time?”
Luo Wanqing found the locations of all interrogation rooms on the map and asked Liu Xiniang.
Liu Xiniang hesitated briefly and said vaguely: “Quite a few.”